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Prospects matched to pros based on measurements

Bryan Fischer

College Football 24/7 writer
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NFL.com

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The 2015 NFL Scouting Combine is in full swing at Lucas Oil Stadium and this year's top prospects are getting measured, poked, prodded and put through the paces by scouts. While clubs try to determine who is the best fit for their team, NFL Insight analytics analyzed prospects to come up with the best NFL comparisons for them based on their height, weight, arm length and hand size. Think you know who a certain player is like? Think again.

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Associated Press

Jameis Winston (6-3 3/4, 231)/Blake Bortles (6-5, 232)

Winston checked in a little shorter than Bortles but is similarly a big guy who is hard to bring down. The Florida State quarterback's hand size (9 3/8 inches) was on the smaller side compared to some of his peers in this draft, but isn’t far off the league average. Ben Roethlisberger is an apt comparison for Winston, but Bortles makes a lot of sense, too.

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NFL/Associated Press

Marcus Mariota (6-3 3/4, 231)/Drew Stanton (6-3 1/4, 226)

Oregon fans might cringe seeing the Heisman Trophy winner being lumped in with somebody like Stanton, but that might speak to how surprisingly big the athletic Mariota actually is. He's almost exactly the same size as the QB he's most frequently compared to — Jameis Winston (6-3 3/4, 231) — but said he's aiming for running faster than a 4.5 in the 40-yard dash. That's why he's a rare prospect, even if there are questions about how he will translate to the next level.

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Associated Press

Bryce Petty (6-2 7/8, 230)/Jake Locker (6-2 1/2, 231)

Petty won't be drafted nearly as early as Locker was in 2011 (eighth overall), but this is a solid comparison in more ways than one for the Baylor product. He's a big guy, but he’s also a terrific athlete and might be the biggest freak at the position, other than Mariota. Both quarterbacks are weight-room warriors that face questions about their passing abilities in the NFL after playing in spread offenses.

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NFL/Associated Press

Brett Hundley (6-3 1/4, 226)/Mark Sanchez (6-2 1/8, 227)

The UCLA quarterback might not be exactly like the USC product, but it's an interesting comparison. Hundley had the biggest hands (10 1/2 inches) of any quarterback at the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine and came in at a solid weight (226), close to what he played at. Obviously the dual-threat Hundley is much more athletic than Sanchez.

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Associated Press

Melvin Gordon (6-0 5/8, 215)/Matt Forte (6-1 3/8, 217)

Given how productive Forte has been in Chicago, some team would love to get a similar player in Gordon, even if the latter has some questions surrounding his ability to catch the ball. They might have to draft the Wisconsin back a little earlier than the Bears did Forte (Round 2), but the numbers are solid for the electric Doak Walker Award winner.

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Associated Press

Todd Gurley (6-0 5/8, 222)/Bernard Pierce (6-0 1/4, 218)

There are plenty of questions surrounding Gurley as he recovers from an ACL injury, but it's not all that surprising to see him compared to somebody who was able to put up highlights in college where it looked like he was shot out of a cannon. With the Georgia star not able to do drills as he recovers, teams will have to rely heavily on tape as they evaluate Gurley.

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Associated Press

Kevin White (6-2 5/8, 215)/Michael Floyd (6-2 5/8, 220)

White is NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah's top wideout in the draft, and he draws a favorable comparison to Floyd in more ways than just a physical one. White has a solid pair of mitts (9¼ inches) and coming in with nearly identical height/weight as Floyd should help fuel the talk that he is a top-15 pick.

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Associated Press

Amari Cooper (6-0 7/8, 211)/Sammy Watkins (6-0 3/4, 211)

Cooper would love to keep pulling in comparisons to last year's draft darling at receiver, Watkins. The Alabama product’s hands measured 10 inches, slightly larger than Watkins' (9 5/8). Cooper is nearly identical in every other physical way to Watkins, which can do nothing but help Cooper's draft stock as he looks to secure a spot in the top 10.

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Associated Press

Dorial Green-Beckham (6-5 1/8, 237)/Vincent Jackson (6-4 3/4, 241)

Calvin Johnson was the comparison many brought up when hearing about Green-Beckham’s size, but the Bucs' Jackson also makes a lot of sense and might be more apt. Johnson is a freak of an athlete, while Green-Beckham doesn't appear to have the same explosiveness.

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Associated Press

Clive Walford (6-4, 251)/Eric Ebron (6-4 3/8, 251)

Miami’s star tight end has been one of the fastest risers in the draft at his position, and while he might liken himself more to Rob Gronkowski, he'll certainly take the Ebron comparisons after the Lions picked him 10th overall last year. Walford having slightly longer arms and bigger hands isn't a bad thing as a pass-catcher and blocker, either.

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Associated Press

T.J. Clemmings (6-4 3/4, 309)/Brandon Albert (6-5 5/8, 309)

One of the most athletic tackles in the draft, Clemmings probably will have no issue bringing up this comparison during interviews with NFL teams. Perhaps most important to teams was Clemmings' 35 1/8-inch arm length, but checking in at the same weight as Albert will also be key for teams trying to make sure he has the size for the left tackle position.

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Associated Press

Brandon Scherff (6-4 5/8, 319)/Chad Rinehart (6-5, 320)

Scherff said he's comfortable moving inside to guard, so it's fitting that Rinehart is the player who measures in the closest at the combine. Arm length is important for potential first-round picks like Scherff, and his 33 ½-inch arm length and measurables similar to Rinehart should do nothing to dissuade teams from thinking the Iowa lineman could move inside at the next level.

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Associated Press

Denzel Perryman (5-10 3/4, 236)/Mychal Kendricks (5-11 1/8, 239)

There have been some concerns about Perryman's size, but having official measurements that are similar to Kendricks is good news for his draft stock. Regardless of his NFL player comparison, few can come close to hitting as hard as he did at "The U."

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NFL\Associated Press

Leonard Williams (6-4 3/8, 302)/Jared Odrick (6-5, 304)

The ceiling for Williams might be the highest in the draft in the minds of many analysts, and the comparisons to Odrick should do nothing to dissuade the belief that the "Big Cat" out of USC is able to play just about everywhere along the defensive line. We'll see how high he goes in the draft, but his height, weight and arm length (34 5/8") check all the boxes.

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Associated Press

Arik Armstead (6-7 1/8, 292)/Mario Williams (6-7, 295)

Armstead might not be in play for the No. 1 overall pick, as Williams was in 2006, but he'll certainly enjoy the comparison as a potential top-10 selection. The Oregon product is not quite as fast as Williams off the edge, but his measurables combined with his strength should help the buzz around him continue to build.

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Associated Press

Dante Fowler (6-2 5/8, 261)/Anthony Spencer (6-2 7/8, 261)

Fowler checked in as one of the bigger edge rushers in the 2015 NFL Draft class, and that makes the comparisons to Spencer quite apt. Each hit the 261-pound mark on the scale, and Fowler's 33 3/4-inch arm length should be plenty to keep linemen away from him.

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Associated Press

Randy Gregory (6-2 3/4, 235)/Cameron Wake (6-2 3/4, 246)

Gregory is still considered a raw prospect, but his first-step quickness and physical attributes not surprisingly match up with a fierce edge rusher like Cameron Wake. Gregory has slightly longer arms (34 inches vs. 32 1/2) and perhaps a slightly higher ceiling than the Dolphins star.

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Associated Press

Trae Waynes (6-0 1/8, 186)/Dre Kirkpatrick (6-1 5/8, 186)

Long corners are what a lot of teams are focusing on lately, and Waynes fits the bill with 31-inch arms and a solid comparison to former Alabama product Dre Kirkpatrick. The former Michigan State star is a good fit for teams looking for corners who can handle larger receivers but still have speed to corral burners.

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Associated Press

Marcus Peters (5-11 5/8, 197)/Carlos Rogers (6-0 3/8, 196)

Most of the concerns about Peters are related to off-field issues, and there have not been any questions about what he can do on the field given his skills and size. Rogers was a top-10 draft selection. Peters brings similar talent to the table at corner in this draft.

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NFL/Associated Press

Landon Collins (6-0, 228)/William Moore (6-0 1/8, 221)

Some might say Collins has less than ideal size at his safety position, but he makes up for that with his ranginess and hard-hitting ability. The comparison to Moore is apt, as Collins could play a similar role for a team looking for a safety in the top half of the draft.